Jon as the feisty senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago (screengrab from GMA News)

MANILA, Philippines – Professional mimic Jon Santos had members of the media laughing when he allowed them a demonstration of his impersonation of feisty senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago in a press conference recently.

The promotional performance was in support of his upcoming show Feb. 15 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila.

Santos, very much in character as Santiago, complete with the big hair and dressed in a red toga – akin to the attire worn by senators in the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Justice Renato C. Corona – waxed eloquent on various topics. He even dished out several pick-up lines as the senator herself is wont to do nowadays.

These included, “Naka-lulon ka ba ng Kwitis? Dahil ‘pag ngumingiti ka may ‘spark,’” and “Teleserye ka ba? Dahil gusto kitang subaybayan.”

He also shared several jokes related to legal jargon.

“’Pag una pa lang kayo nagkita, court of first instance ‘yon. ‘Pag nagandahan na kayo sa isa’t isa that is court of appeal. ‘Pag todo todong  kayo na that is already the supreme court. Pero ‘pag sobra na kayong close, eh, ibang court na ‘yon, Victoria’s Court.”

Still aping Santiago, Santos went on to comment on Grace Lee, the supposed new apple of PNoy's eye.

“She is very beautiful, very erudite but I don’t think she is as intelligent as me. Where did she go? I went to an international university. I was born not only with a proverbial silver spoon in my mouth; I was born with a dictionary in my mouth! In fact, the dictionary was named after me – Miriam Dictionary.”

Seemingly not to be outdone is the real Santiago, who’s seen last Wednesday holding court as guest speaker at the annual convention of the Philippine Society of Hypertension.

Santiago explained her absence in the ongoing impeachment trial in her speech, saying that she had to excuse herself from the proceedings on the advice of her doctors who warned her about her hypertension.

“So I spend my time these days at home, reading literature on memorial parks of my choice,” she shared amid boisterous laughter of the physicians present at the venue.

Not coincidentally, Santiago also shared a batch of new pick-up lines, which she deemed would be a big hit relating to the forthcoming “Day of Hearts, or Valentine’s.”

Then again, one is apt to receive a slap on the face if they dare use most of them in real-life as they sound more like insults, including a particular line that went, “Bulaklak ka ba? Pano kasi ang paa mo maugat.”

Santiago went on to criticize all those participating in the impeachment trial, including her senator colleagues for what he alleged is wanton grandstanding.

“Every senatoriable is eager to spout pious nonsense about the impeachment just to get free media advertising ahead of the campaign. Kulang na lang puntahan nila ang camera at i-saksak nila ang mukha nila duon,” she said.

According to a report on GMA News however, Santiago eventually had to end her harangue, complaining of hardness in breathing and dizziness.

Asked in the same report as to how she feels about death in general, Santiago quipped: “I really don’t mind death – the only question [that matters to me] about death is whether there is sex after death.”